Nesophontes edithae
| Puerto Rican nesophontes | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Eulipotyphla |
| Family: | Nesophontidae |
| Genus: | Nesophontes |
| Species: | N. edithae |
| Binomial name | |
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Nesophontes edithae Anthony, 1916 |
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The Puerto Rican nesophontes (Nesophontes edithae), or Puerto Rican shrew, is an extinct soricomorph endemic to Puerto Rico.
It is believed that the animal was never observed by Europeans. Contemporary fossils with indigenous artifacts and introduced rat fossils indicate survival into the colonial era, possibly until the 16th century. The shrew lived on the 4' island montane forest/brush endemic to western Puerto Rico and was an insectivore. There are fossil specimens located in London. It disappeared after introduction of rats and due to the destruction of its forest habitat.
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Wikipedia